Building block



Dec. 31, 1946. E. T. PUTNAM BUILDING BLOCK Original Filed May 25, 1940 llO Iii

3nbentor LE 7," P0 T/VAM,

Patented Dec. 31, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT a OFFICE? BUILDING BLOCK. 1

Erie T. Putnam, 'Detroit, Mich 'assignor-to Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company, e -Toledo,- Ohio, a corporation of Ohio 6 Claimsw (Cl. 72-*86-) The present invention relates to an improved type of building unit adapted for use in the'con struction 'of interior and exterior walls.

This application is a division of mycopending application Serial No. 409,544, filed September-.4;

1941, which in turn is a divisionof my. earlier filed: application Serial No. 337,276, filed Mayh25, 1940.. i

(now Patent No. 2,319,345, dated May, '18,. 1943);;

The building, unit herein providedcomprisesga;

composite block including .a body portion formed:

from a cementitious'materiahsuch as concrete,w-..

Haydite, or the like, and an ornamental facing therefon; The. ornamental facing is preferably secured to the body portion by an interposed layer of adhesive material, such as an asphaltic mastic cement, and also by mechanical fastening means in the form of metal holders engaging both the ornamental facing and the body portion. In constructing a Wall with building blocks of this invention, the blocks are adapted to be laid up in courses in substantially the same manner as cut stone, granite, or terra-cotta, being preferably anchored to a rear or foundation wall.

Generally, it is the aim of the invention to provide a composite building block of the above character embodying novel features of construction and arrangement which will not only greatly enhance the ornamental appearance of the block but which will also improve its structural characteristics.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a building block of the above character having an ornamental facing including one or more sheets or plates of opaque structural glass of the same or different colors and with which may be associated metal moldings or facing strips which not only give to the block a more attractive, fin

ished appearance but also adapt it to varied uses.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a building block of the above character having associated therewith a metal, coping member of improved construction and to which a suitable flashing material may be readily and securely attached.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

The single figure is a perspective sectional view of a building block constructed according to the invention and having associated therewith a metal coping member.

Referring now 'rnorerzparticularlyl to the draw:

ing, there is illustrated a buildir'1g :block.92 of their. character .herein :.provided :having-a. associate a;

therewith. a. metal coping member designatedjn:

its entiretyby :the. numeral ;93. :Thexblock. come.

prises a'. cementitious bodyv portiomfld having an ornament'alifacing. '95 secured thereto by a layer l of mastic .96. .tThemetaltcoping:membemliii come prises. :.an inverted substantially. vlJ -shaped stri-pz; comprising :a horizontal base. portion 91 disposed 1;.

oppositetheedgea of the ornamental facingz95 and;

the depending legsfwandil 9. disposedattheifront" and xreart respectively .of said: ornamental .facin The base portion 91 is preferably provided withrfl Wardly extending Web portion I03 terminating in an upwardly inclined flange I04 substantially parallel with flange I02 and forming therebetween a channel I05. Formed at the junction of the web portion I03 and flange H14 is leg IE6 embedded in the cementitious body portion 94 of the block. The numeral I81 represents a sheet of suitable flashing material, preferably of metal, and having its outer end portion folded upon itself as at I88 and inserted within the channel I5. The free end I09 of said flashing is bent over the top of the flange I02 to provide a neat, water-tight construction, If desired, a layer of mortar lIil may be disposed between the flashing I81 and body portion 94 of the block.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a building block of the character described, a body portion formed of cementitious material, an ornamental facing covering a surface thereof, a metal edge molding having a channel for receiving one edge of the facing therein and a portion embedded 'in said body portion, said metal molding being further provided with a longitudinally extending recess, and

3 a sheet of flashing material covering the upper surface of the cementitious body portion and having a portion thereof received within the recess in said metal molding.

2. In a building block of the character described, a body portion formed of cementitious material, an ornamental facing covering a surface thereof, a metal edge molding having a channel for receiving one edge of the facing therein and a portion embedded in said body portion, said metal molding being further provided with a longitudinally extending recess, a sheet of flashing material covering the upper surface of the cementitious body portion and having a portion thereof received within the recess in said metal molding, and cushioning means arranged between the said metal molding and the edge of the said facing.

3. In a building block of the character described, a body portion formed of cementitious material, an ornamental facing covering a surface thereof, a metal edge molding having a channel for receiving one edge of the facing therein and a portion embedded in said body portion, said metalmolding being further provided with a longitudinally extending recess, a sheet of flashing material covering the upper surface of the cementitious body portion and having a portion thereof received within the recess in said metal molding, said metal molding also having a longitudinally extending groove therein, and a strip of cushioning material arranged within said groove and engaging the adjacent edge of said facing.

4. In a building block of the character described, a body portion formed of cementitious material, an ornamental facing covering a surface thereof, a metal edge molding comprising an inverted substantially U-shaped strip including a horizontal base portion dispo ed pp the edge of the facing and depending legs received at the front and rear of said facing, said front leg being spaced from the front surface of the said facing, an anchoring portion carried by said strip and embedded in said body portion, and a sheet of flashing material engaging said metal molding and extending over said cementitious body portion.

5. In a building block for mounting in a wall, a body portion, a facing on said body portion, an edge molding covering the upper edge of said facing, a sheet of flashing material covering the upper surface of the body portion, and means on said edge molding and on said flashing material for engagement with one another to form a tightconnection therebetween.

6. In a building block for mounting in a wall, a body portion, a facing on said body portion, a coping edge covering the upper edge of said facing and having a portion extending downwardly over the front face thereof, said downwardly extending portion being spaced from the front face of the facing, and a sheet of flashing material covering the upper surface of the body portion and connected to said coping edge.

ERLE T. PUTNAM. 

